Contributor Journey Optimization

Description

Contributor Journey Optimization (CJO) is a method, currently under ideation and development, that describes how a project can be evaluated for the creation of concrete tasks for the adoption of InnerSource, specifically aiming to facilitate the journey of project stakeholders in becoming contributors, trusted committers and/or maintainers.

Work (to be) done / In Progress

• Miro Board - Contributor Journey Optimization (Idea Board) - use this link to get access to comment (requires login) - contact @dellagustin-sap to get access to edit.
• Planned: Creation of a new pattern
  • https://github.com/InnerSourceCommons/InnerSourcePatterns/pull/787
• 2025-03-13 - Presentation on the InnerSource Gathering Berlin
  • Slides - https://dam.sap.com/mac/u/a/jtmWHNd?rc=10&doi=SAP1193221
• 2025-05-13 - Presented on an InnerSource Community Call - recording
  • Slides - still to come
• 2025-05-19 - Presented and discussed on the ISPO WG sync call

To do

• Move content out of Miro (@dellagustin-sap can't access Miro anymore from corporate devices)

Results

Related Meetings

• ISPO Working Group Meeting - 2024 - 12 - 16
• https://gatherings.innersourcecommons.org/berlin-2025/

Related issues

• https://github.com/InnerSourceCommons/InnerSourcePatterns/issues/786

Links and References

• Patches Welcome - Contributing To Apache Projects In A Nutshell, Slide 11 shows a "ladder" for contributor engagement, that is similar to the idea of a Contributor Journey in CJO. Shared by @MaineC as a follow up to the CJO presentation on the InnerSource Gathering Berlin.
• 2012-12-21 - The Apache Way - Slide 21 shows "The Chain of Merit", showing a "ladder" from User to Foundation Member. Shared by @MaineC as a follow up to the CJO presentation on the InnerSource Gathering Berlin.
• 2019-02-22 - An approach to community building from Apache Beam - Blog post. Shared by @MaineC as a follow up to the CJO presentation on the InnerSource Gathering Berlin.
• Shared by @Erioldoesdesign:
  • https://github.com/mozilla/open-leadership-training-series/blob/gh-pages/_articles/building-communities-of-contributors/bring-on-contributors-using-personas-and-pathways.md#pathways
  • https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVPO1b7zg=/?moveToWidget=3458764537015570052&cot=14
• https://opensource.guide/ - shared on the ISPO WG call, 2025-05-19 (I think it was suggested by @meller13)
• Slide deck Program Guide for ISPOs and OSPOs - shared on the ISPO WG call, 2025-05-19
• Growing Contributors - book The Open Source Way - shared by @spier
• 2020-09-29 Danese Cooper (ISC) at ISC.S11 - Introduction to InnerSource - contributor triangle